Packing means for fragile articles



Feb. 19, 1935. H, SHERMAN PACKING MEANS FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1932 I Invenfiow:

24 26 Ea /nails HSFuerrnan Feb. 19, 1935. v SHERMAN 1,991,425

PACKING MEANS FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed Oct. 5, .1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2I T 30-1? 40 2t 23 '22 w; 4 3/", r

. /23 22 40' as. I ijl'jjifjjji: 1:111:11'111'1: 36 24 |?9/27 Invenioz':33 37 fiancz'sflhermn Z1 M ,V M

Patented Feb. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- Application October5,

Claims.

My present invention relates to the packing of fragile objects, such aseggs, and aims to provide more convenient, safer and otherwise improvedcontaining and packing means forthat purpose,

5 both for use in packing and shipping such objects in large lots aswell as in their retail distribution in one-dozen or other lots.

In the drawings, illustrating by way of example one embodiment of theinvention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a unit packing means, shown assembledwith a container, a portion of the latter being broken away, and themanner of its assembly and removal being indicated by the broken lines;

Fig. 2 is an end view of an assembled package as in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan of one form of holder or filler useful as the inneror article-receiving element, showing it in folded or set-up condition;

Fig. 4 shows the holder of Fig. 3 in flat condition;

Fig. 5 is a. perspective view of a retaining element or tray, in set-upcondition;

Fig. 6 illustrates the blank for the tray of Fig. 5, upon a smallerscale, prior to folding;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section of said tray, in partially set-up condition,looking toward the inner face of one of its ends;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section taken as if upon the line 8-8 of Fig.5, but showing a holder or filler positioned in the tray, illustrating aparticular cooperative relation between these parts;

Fig. 9 is a plan view, upon a similar scale as 'Fig. 6, of a container,carton or wrapper such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but in collapsed orflat-folded condition;

Fig. 10 is an end view, upon an intermediate scale between that of Fig.9 and Fig. 1, showing said container, carton or wrapper in set-upcondition; and

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1,illustrating one form of securing means. 1

In the packing and shipment of eggs in large quantities it hasheretofore been the general practice to pack the eggs in wooden crates,in 30-dozen lots, the crates beingsubdivided into half -sections eachholding fifteen dozen eggs, in five layers. In each layer three dozeneggs are placed in 6 x 6 honeycomb or assembled crossed-strip fillers,the several layers being separated and cushioned by flats. For retaildistribution the eggs are customarily removed from these crates, candledand repacked into 2 x 6, 3 x 4, or similar 1932, Serial No. 636,302

honeycomb fillers in flap-covered cartons of appropriate size.

The packing means of my invention, as herein illustrated, is useful bothin connection with small lot retail distribution of the eggs and also 5in their packing and shipment in said -dozen or other large lots,whereby the repacking of the eggs fromtheir filler and flat arrangementin the'crates, into the small lot containers, may, if desired, beeliminated. 1

In accordance with my present invention, the eggs are received in aholder or filler in which they are individually positioned, separatedand cushioned. Such receiver or holder may be variously formed butpreferably is of the folding sheet type such as disclosed and claimedbroadly in my co-pending application Serial No. 297,629, filed August 6,1928. The particular form of such folding sheet receiver here selectedfor purposes of illustration is that of my Patent No. 1,815,683, grantedJuly 21, 1931, upon an application copending with said Serial No.297,629, and coming within the broad scope of the claims of said earlierapplication.

As best seen in Fig. 4, such holder or receiver comprises a sheet 12having a plurality of parallel fold formations 13, 14, 15 demarking thesheet into hingedly connected strips 16, 1'7, 18 and 19. The adjacentinner strips 17, 18 each have a series of concavities or hollowformations 20, while the outer strips 16 and 19 have cooperatingseriesofraised partitioning and cushioning formations 21, in a generally similarmanner as in my said Patent No. 1,815,683. In its original, unfolded orflat condition as in said Fig. 4, this holder is substantially.uniplanor. These holders, while flat, may readily be stacked or nestedin bundles for shipment to the user. When set up for use the describedholder is folded along the lines 13, 14, 15 into troughed form, as seenin Figs. 1 and 2, and in plan in Fig. 3. In this folded or set-up formrows of cellular pockets are presented for the individual eggs or otherobjects. I

Novel means is herein provided for retaining the described holder inset-up condition, either for packing in, crates or cases, or in retailcontainers, or for household handling by the consumer, which means alsocooperates in a particular manner with the carton, container orouterpackage element to be described. As illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8,and as seen also in Figs. 1 and 2, this element comprises a folding orcollapsible open-topped device or tray.

The blank from which this tray element is formed is seen in Fig. 6. Asheet of fibrous material such as cardboard or the like, of generallyrectangular form, is formed for folding along the longitudinal parallellines 22, 22, and along the transverse parallel lines 23, 23, asindicated by the broken lines in said figure. The central portion 24 ofthe blank defined by said lines 22 and 23 furnishes the bottom for thetray, while the longitudinal portions 25, 25 and end portions 26, 26outside said lines are adapted to be folded up as enclosing side and endwalls for the tray.

Referring still to Fig. 6, the corner portions 27 of the blank areslitted at 28, 28, and 29, 29, as indicated by the full lines in linewith the longitudinal fold lines 22. Said end portions 26 of the blankbetween the slits 28 and 29 are extended beyond said corner portions 27,and have transverse fold lines 30, providing locking strips or flaps 31,31.

In setting up the tray for use the side portions 25 of the blank areturned up along the lines 22 to form the tray sides. The corner portions27 are turned inwardly, along the ends of the transverse fold lines 23,and are brought into parallelism with the end sides or walls 26. Theseoperations will readily be understood by reference to Fig. 7, across-sectional view looking toward the inside of one end of the tray,showing it in the process of being set up.

The completely assembled tray is seen separately in Fig. 5 wherein thesides 25 and the ends 26 have been turned up into vertical position toprovide completely enclosing side walls. The

' corner portions 27 then lie fiatwise against the members 2'7 to moveeither outwardly or upwardly. Hence the side walls 25- as well as theend walls 26 are locked and retained in their upright assembledpositions.

A tray element such as that of Figs. 5 to 7 is proportioned and arrangedto receive the holder or filler of the desired size and number of cellsfor the particular purpose, whether the latter be of the 2x6 arrangementillustrated herein, or 1 x 6, 2 x 3, or otherwise. Theproper filler isinserted or dropped into the corresponding tray, in which position itcooperates to retain the tray in set-up condition. As is readilyapparent in Fig. 1, and as also seen in the partial longitudinalsectional view of Fig. 8, the ends of the inserted holder lie adjacentor abut the inner faces of the tray ends, and accordingly hold thedownturned locking flaps 31 against unfolding. It is particularly notedthat the embodiment of the holder-retaining element or tray as hereinillustrated is assembled and secured without necessary resort to gluing,stitching or other additional fastening means, and. that the tray andholder intercooperate mutually to retain each other in their assembledconditions. Said tray element may be otherwise formed than asillustrated; for example the corner or looking parts 27 and the lockingflaps 31 might be transposed with respect to the parts to which they areattached.

The described assembly of holder or filler and retaining element or traymay be quickly set up and assembled, manually or by automatic means,

and is then ready to receive the eggs or other contents to be packaged.This two-element assembly, with contents, may then be placed directly inthe ordinary wooden 30-dozen egg crate or other container, for storageand shipment in lots. In such instance the described one-dozen units maybe placed in five layers of three dozen each, preferably with theone-dozen units in succeeding layers disposed at right angles to thoseof the layer above or below. If desired, but not necessarily, thesucceeding layers may be levelled or separated by cardboard or othersheets, which 1188(23 not be cushioned in the manner of usual flaadmirably adapted for use in the novel 30-dozen case such as disclosedand claimed in my 00- pending application Serial No. 455,247, filed May24, 1930.

In preparation for retail distribution the described one-dozenassemblies or packing units are placed in suitable outer containers,cartons or wrappers. I have herein illustrated for the purpose acollapsible tubular element, seen in Figs. 1 and 2, and separately inFigs. 9 and 10, with which the tray and holder elements previouslydescribed are combined and cooperate in the practice of my presentinvention.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, the tubular carton, container or wrapperreferred to is preferably formed from a single sheet of cardboard orlike material. The sheet is made foldable along four parallel lines 32,33, 34 and 35, demarking the blank into horizontal Walls 36, verticalwalls 37 and a securing flap or glue lap 38. The blank is folded alongsaid lines 32 to 35, to

The described packing assemblies are give it the tubular form'as seen inFig. 10, and is initially, that is, prior to use, secured in saidtubular form, as by gluing or otherwise fastening the securing flap 38flatwise against the adjacent portion of the next wall, herein onevertical wall 37. The tube so formed is easily collapsed or folded downinto the flattened state shown in Fig. 9, for shipment to the user.

The previously assembled tray and holder or filler elements, with theircontents, are readily assembled with the described tubular container ina telescoping manner, the tubular element receiving the other elementsof the package through one open end, by relative endwise sliding of theparts. I

In the completely assembled condition of the three described packingelements, as in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the opposed walls oftwo adjacent cell rows of the holder or filler, being foldably joinedalong their top edges provide a common longitudinal member or rib, atthe portion 14, between the cell rows and substantially centrally of thetray and of the tubular carton, this intertrough wall or rib being atthe highest portion of the holder, where it immediately underlies andaffords support to the upper wall of the tubular carton, intermediatethe sides of the latter. It is also apparent that the intermediate orretaining element or tray not only serves to retain the filler in set-upcondition, .but also affords markedly increased reinforcement to thetubular container, particularly transversely. In this connection theinfolded end locking portions or flaps 31, held closed by the insertedholder, present a double-walled transverse reinforcement affordingextreme rigidity transversely of the package as a whole. Further, theportions 27'at either end substantially contact or actually abut eachother, giving further transverse reinforcement as well as additionalthickness of material and cushioning effect at the ends of the package.

The package may be secured in assembled condition in any suitable mannerwhereby the tray and holder are retained against unintentionaldisplacement from the tubular carton. I prefer to employ for thispurpose, and have herein illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 11, a securingmeans comprising a wire stitching or staple 39 joining the intertroughtop wall or rib 14 of the holder with the overlying wall 36 of thetubular carton, desirably at or near one end of the latter, or at bothends if desired. Said fastening means not only anchors the partslongitudinally but further contributes to the firmness and strength ofthe package as a unitary whole, by preventing relative twisting or othertortional movements of the parts and insuring the intercooperatingbracing and reinforcing effect of one part upon another. The staplingmeans 39 has the further advantage that it may be quickly removed, as bysimply tearing out the surrounding portion of the container top wall,but nevertheless cannot easily be released without leaving evidence thatthe package has been tampered with.

To open the package, the user has but to tear out or otherwise releasethe fastening means, whereupon the tray and holder with the contents mayquickly be slid out of the tubular carton, which latter may then bediscarded. To facilitate withdrawal of the tray and filler I may providea finger piece or cut-out tab at one or both end portions of the tray,as illustrated at 40 in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6.

- From the foregoing it will be apparent that my invention comprisesamong its features the novel tray element itself and the combinations ofsuch element with the holder or filler and with the tubular container,carton or wrapper, in the -manner above fully described. As pointed outagency for assembly into the combination and relation constituting aretail package as contemplated by my present invention. If desired, the

tray and holder assembly may be enclosed in a transparent or otherwrapping, as of waxed paper, or of material such as sold under thetrademark Cellophane, and in such case the assembly so wrapped may beused without other outer container, or may be inserted in a container,such as the tabular carton described. It wil be seen that both the trayand the carton or container afford flat surfaces which are admirablyadapted for the reception of identifying printing, advertising matterand the like.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiment shown anddescribed herein by way of example, its scope being pointed out in thefollowing claims.

I claim: I

1. A package for fragile objects such as eggs comprising, incombination, a folding, troughed cellular holding having a centrallongitudinal inter-trough wall as its highest portion, an,.,opentopholder-receiving tray having a bottom and.

walls, folded up from a flat blank and adapted to receive and confinesaid folded holder transversely and lengthwise; a collapsible,circumferentially continuous, tubular carton proportioned to receive thetray and holder; and staple means on the package so formed, securingsaid holder rib to the carton top.

3. In packing means for fragile objects such as eggs, said meansincluding a cellular holder, an open-top retaining element for suchholder comprising a rectangular bottom member, opposite side walls andend walls foldably connected along the edges of said bottom member andbeing of less height than said cellular holder, iii-folding cornerlocking pieces hinged respectively to two opposite walls, and securingflaps on the other two opposite walls foldable downwardly over saidlocking pieces to retain all the walls in up-folded position, saidelement formed from a one-piece blank and constituting an open-top trayfor receiving and retaining such cellular holder in operative condition,with the upper portion of the holder protruding above the tray and saidtray itself adapted to be held in locked position by engagement of theholder with two opposed in-folded locking pieces.

4. Packing means for fragile objects such as eggs, comprising, incombination, a holder comprising av one-piece sheet element having aplurality of parallel sections with transverse protuberances on them,said sections being folded along parallel lines to provide one or morerows of cells for individual objects, a tray completely open at the tophaving a bottom and upstanding self-supporting side walls terminatingbelow the top of the holder, said tray having the holder set into it andretaining and bracing the latter in its folded condition by confiningengagement with its lower side and fold portions while exposing theholder cells for filling- .and inspection purposes, an enclosingcontainer including bottom, side and top walls, said container receivingsaid tray with the holder settherein, and means securing the top of theholder to the container top.

5. A package for fragile objects such as eggs,

comprising in combination: a cellular holder' formed of fibrous materialand having folding sections with transverse protuberant formations,

said sections providing, in folded condition, a

plurality of rows of cells, opposed walls of two adjoining rows beingfoldably joined along their top edges to provide a common upstandinglongitudinal rib between said rows; a collapsible, circumferentiallycontinuous, tubular carton proportioned to receive said holder; and oneor more stapling elements extending through and interconnecting an upperpart or parts of said rib and the adjacent overlying top wall of thetubular carton and thereby securely retaining the holder in the tubularcarton.

FRANCIS H. SHERMAN.

